SB Special | India Aluminium Scrap Price Insights – May 2025

India’s imported aluminium scrap market has shown notable firming in May 2025, with prices of key grades such as Tense Scrap, Zorba 95-5, and Al LME 3-M rebounding steadily after earlier months of pressure.

🔍 Key Price Movements:

Al LME 3-M (Red Line): Closed at $2390/t, rising from April’s low of $2280/t. This marks a steady recovery of $110/t, reflecting improved demand sentiment and global bullishness on primary aluminium contracts.
Zorba 95-5 (Blue Line): Held firm around $2150/t, reflecting tight supply and stable demand from Indian secondary smelters.
Tense Scrap (Cyan Line): Saw a strong surge to $1870/t, up $90/t from April, driven by higher melt value and demand from auto alloy manufacturers.
📈 Market Trend Highlights:

The aluminium scrap curve shows a clear V-shaped recovery pattern post-February 2025 lows.
Tight global container availability and rising primary LME prices have supported imported scrap prices.
Indian recyclers are stepping up procurement amid rising domestic alloy demand and anticipation of H2 manufacturing boost.
🛠️ Outlook Ahead:

With the monsoon season approaching and inventory cycles aligning, prices are likely to stay firm or edge higher. Market participants expect continued upward pressure on Tense and sideways movement on Zorba due to constrained Western Hemisphere shipments.

📊 SteelBazaar View:
“Dynamic price mapping and timely procurement have become critical. Buyers are advised to act on favorable contracts early and explore long-term tie-ups to manage volatility,” said the SB Market Intelligence Team.

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